Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ...for the man she had chosen, to suppose that the acknowledgment of that love could make it less worthy in his eyes. Happy indeed, it was for them both that the most perfect confidence did exist between them, for Henry had conceived the project of marrying the young Knight to Lady Katrine; and though the Queen, with the instinctive perception of a woman in those matters, soon saw that such a plan would very little accord with the feelings of either party, and quickly discouraged it; yet Henry, giving way to all his own impetuosity, hurried it on with precipitation, took every occasion to force them together, and de VOL. II. I clared that he would have them married as soon as the Court returned from the meeting with the French King at Guisnes. The situation of Sir Osborne was not a little embarrassing, the more especially as Lady Katrine, in her merry malice, often seemed to give in entirely to the King's schemes, having a threefold object in so doing--if object can be attributed to such heedless gaiety; namely, to coquet a little with Sir Osborne, which she did not dislike with any body, to enjoy his embarrassment, and at the same time to tease Lord Darby. With these three laudable motives she might have contrived to make Sir Osborne and Lady Constance unhappy, had not that mutual confidence existed between them which set all doubts at defiance. Nor, indeed, was it Lady Katrine's wish to do harm; whimsical, gay, and thoughtless, she gave way to the impulse of the moment. If she was in good-humour, she was all liveliness and spirit; running as close to the borders of direct flirtation as possible with whomsoever happened to be near; but, on the contrary, if any thing went wrong with her, she would be petulant and irritable, showing forth a thousand...show more